Chennai Rains For The Second Day Add To People’s Misery

Fresh rains lashed Chennai and suburbs falling under Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, bringing more areas under water and making commute a hardship.

Schools and colleges remained closed for the second day in view of the rains in Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts.

According to report by PTI, Parts of Vyasarpadi, Perambur, Choolai and Otteri in north Chennai, West Anna Nagar in central Chennai and parts of Madipakkam and Keelkattalai in south Chennai are witnessing inundation.

In Korattur, the ESI hospital premises was surrounded by water, causing hardship to patients.

The Meteorology department, in a bulletin here, said rain or thundershowers were likely to occur at most places in coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and many places in interior Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

North East monsoon is active in Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhood. In the past 24 hours there was rainfall in many parts of the State, the highest being at Ponneri in Tiruvallur district (10 cm), Director of the Area Cyclone Warning Centre S Balachandran told reporters here.

The upper air cyclonic circulation over Gulf of Munnar was positioned over Sri Lanka and southwest Bay of Bengal now, he said. It is under its influence that many places in coastal districts and south Tamil Nadu will receive widespread rainfall. Barring western districts, interiors of the State would witness moderate showers, he said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely at some places in coastal districts.

Rain in Chennai, and neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, will be intermittent but sometimes it could be heavy, he said.

Buses were delayed in several routes due to rains here, and road users faced inconvenience during their daily commute. Traffic snarls were seen in many locations and vehicles were diverted at some points to ease traffic situation.

With the resumption of showers, suburban Mudichur which was already witnessing waterlogging became almost inundated with residents facing acute difficulty in venturing out of their homes. Several homes and retail outlets were seen shut in Mudichur which falls under Kancheepuram district, and roads wore a deserted look as there was hardly any movement of vehicles.

Civic authorities said staffers were being deployed round-the-clock to bail out water from roads and subways. Trees that fell in some locations were being cleared, they added. Over 400 water pumps were being used to suck water out of the roads.

There were brief spells of rain in Chennai and in several parts of neighbouring Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts overnight. Followed by Ponneri, Cuddalore district recorded nine cm for 24-hour period ending 8.30 am today.